Eleven killed after skydiving plane crashes in northeastern France
A light aircraft carrying a pilot, five instructors, and five novice jumpers crashed shortly after takeoff in northeastern France, killing all 11 people on board.
A skydiving accident in northeastern France on Sunday, killed all 11 people aboard a light aircraft, resulting in what officials describe as one of the country's deadliest ever light aircraft accidents. The victims included a pilot, five parachuting instructors, and five novice jumpers who were preparing for tandem descents.
The aircraft, a single-engine Pilatus PC-6 registered in Germany, took off from the Nancy-Essey airfield on the outskirts of Nancy shortly before 11:00 local time. According to Yves Séguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, the plane suffered a malfunction and fell almost vertically
.
Media additions
The crash occurred approximately 300 meters from the runway in the town of Tomblaine, coming down on a bike path near a residential area, a cemetery, and an Auchan supermarket. Séguy warned that the disaster narrowly avoided a higher death toll, stating, Had it occurred just a few dozen metres away, the accident could have caused additional casualties
.
Victims and Psychological Trauma
Five of the novice skydivers were independent nurses from the local area. Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle Council of Independent Nurses, told BFM-TV that the colleagues had chosen to go on their first jump to unwind during a severe heatwave. François Pélissier, president of the Grand Nancy Tomblaine Aeropole, noted that some of the students had received the experience as a gift. The jumps were organized by the Tandemotion association, which rents the facility on weekends for introductory flights.
The tragedy was witnessed by the families of the victims, who had gathered at the airfield to film the tandem jumps. Nancy Mayor Mathieu Klein said the victims died in full view of their loved ones
. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez noted the tremendous emotion and an even greater psychological trauma
caused by the fact that some loved ones saw the aircraft fall with their own eyes. In response, a medico-psychological emergency unit was activated, and the town of Tomblaine provided a room at a secret location for the families to gather.
Investigation and Technical Details
The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, according to Nuñez. This probe is being conducted in conjunction with the Air Transport Gendarmerie's investigative unit of Nancy-Metz. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses has visited the site to determine the precise circumstances of the accident.
Data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 indicated the plane banked to the left after takeoff and crashed less than a minute later. A local resident, John Curaku, told BFM-TV he heard what sounded like the engine stopping, followed by a bang, and found no signs of life
upon reaching the site, noting that two bodies were thrown a few meters from the plane. Another witness told Reuters he saw the plane veer to the right before hearing the impact and attempting to extinguish the wreckage, which had caught fire.
The Pilatus PC-6 is a small freight transporter used for passengers and skydivers. Tabarot described the event as France's biggest aviation accident involving skydiving in about 30 years. News agency AFP, citing the BEA aviation safety agency, reported it as the deadliest private plane accident in French history, excluding military and commercial flights.
Emergency Response and Local Impact
The response involved a massive mobilization of resources, including 50 firefighters, 25 SDIS rescue service vehicles, two SAMU emergency medical crews, and 45 National Police agents. Local news reported that some early responders feared the aircraft might explode. A chapel of rest was established at the Marcel-Picot stadium.
Following the crash, properties in the area experienced a power outage, though officials have not confirmed if this was linked to the accident. Local police urged the public to strictly avoid Rue Salvador Allende to ensure emergency access.
Comparison and Context
| Location | Date | Casualties | Aircraft Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomblaine, France | June 2026 | 11 dead | Pilatus PC-6 |
| Butler, Missouri, USA | June 14 | 12 dead | Pacific Aerospace P750 |
The event follows a similar tragedy in Missouri just weeks prior, where 12 people died after a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff. France has also been struggling with a searing heatwave that prompted an amber weather warning in Meurthe-et-Moselle on the day of the crash. Tomblaine Mayor Hervé Feron suggested that weather conditions might have played a role, though he admitted it was too early to provide a definitive explanation.
